GAO Testimony Highlights Gaps in Federal Native Housing Support

The Government Accountability Office testified before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, presenting preliminary observations that 30 federal programs - most notably the Indian Housing Block Grant - provide housing assistance targeted to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.

Tribes and tribal organizations contacted by GAO indicated that they primarily use federal funds to maintain existing housing, with new construction limited by funding that has not kept pace with rising construction costs and by certain program restrictions.

GAO's analysis, based on interviews with a nongeneralizable sample of 12 Tribes and one Native Hawaiian organization regarding housing use, and a separate sample of 19 Tribes concerning homelessness strategies, found that tribal communities experience both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, with "doubling up" a widespread coping mechanism.

Many Tribes rely on Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, and the Continuum of Care program, to address homelessness. However, challenges limit broader use: a portion of Indian Housing Block Grant funding is absorbed by operation and maintenance costs, leaving little for shelters or emergency assistance, and Continuum of Care eligibility criteria may not align with tribal homelessness patterns such as doubling up.

GAO noted that its work is ongoing and will continue to assess the effectiveness of these programs and the experiences of tribal communities. For further information, GAO staff can be reached at the email addresses provided in the testimony.